Veteran jockey TD Houghton is this week’s guest. He’ll shares his Thistledown expertise and insights for one of Ohio’s biggest weekends of horse racing, including:
Thistledown Race 9: George Lewis Memorial Stakes
Thistledown Race 10: Lady Jacqueline Stakes
Thistledown Race 11: Ohio Derby – Grade III
Thistledown Horse Racing Tips and Commentary
Terry “Hollywood” Hay’s Handicapping
Thistledown Race 9: $75,000 Geoge Lewis Memorial Stakes
4 – First Song has won three of his last four races, has a trainer who wins 24% of the races in the 3rd race off after a layoff and he has a good 5F workout onJun-16.
12 – Mobil Solution finished 3rd in his first race back after taking a 5-month break. He likes Thistledown finishing in the money in 84% of the races, winning 31% of them and the distance is in his wheelhouse finishing in the money in 82% of the races, winning 35% of the races.
13 – Authentic Cowtown ran 2nd in his last race, he has the highest speed figure at today’s distance, his best dirt speed is fastest among today’s starters, and he has a good 3F workout on Jun-18.
10 – Aunt Bee finished in the money in all six of her career races, winning the first four races. She finished 3rd in her last race as the favorite but her trainer wins 31% of the time when bringing back a beaten favorite to race again and the jockey in the last 7 days has this record (13 4-1-2).
Thistledown Race 10: $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes
4 – Candlelight Hours has won four races in a row and the trainer wins 24% of the time when bringing back a horse that won their last race. Jockey Terry Houghton rode her in all her recent wins and returns to make it five in a row.
6 – Army Wife has finished in the money in nine out of her last ten races, winning four of the starts. In the four wins one was a grade 3 and another was a grade 2 race. She has shown that she can handle the distance and in G1-Alabama she received a 105-speed rating the highest rating that any of the horses in this race has received.
5 – Crazy Beautiful ran 6th in her last race in April and then took a break and returns for this race drops in class and has a bullet workout on Jun-18. She is trained by Kenneth McPeek who wins 25% of Non-Graded Stakes he enters a horse in, and she is ridden by Brian Hernandez, Jr.
9 – Maracuja finished in 4th place in a Grade 1 race won by the great mare Letruska, drops in class today and her best dirt speed is fastest among today’s starters.
Thistledown Race 11: $500,000 Ohio Derby Grade III
5 – White Abarrio finished a disappointing 16th in the Kentucky Derby but I will give him an excuse I believe with so many horses in a field it is sometimes hard to get in a good run. He has won four out of six career races with Tyler Gaffalione in the irons and Tyler is back to ride him again and will close to win this race.
7 – Tawny Port finished better in the Kentucky Derby than White Abarrio but had a cleaner trip. He has the highest last race speed rating and has had several good workouts.
1- Barese has won three out of five career races finishing 3rd in his last race after experiencing trouble in the race as the favorite, but the trainer wins 22% of the time when bringing back a beaten favorite to race again and his best dirt speed is fastest among today’s starters.
6 – Pineapple Man has finished in the money in 100% of his races this year, winning 25% of the starts and has a new jockey in the irons Terry Houghton.
$1.00 Pick 4 – Cost $96.00
Race 8: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8
Race 9: 4, 10, 13, 14
Race 10: 4, 6
Race 11: 5, 7
Swiss Army Shawn’s Selections
Thistledown Race 9: $75,000 Geoge Lewis Memorial Stakes
PACE PROJECTION: Looks to be 2 primary speed horses in this race with a couple pressers. The 2 speed horses are the #4 FIRST SONG and the #7 DANEFIELD. If one can sneak away, they may win if not look for a presser to have a good shot.
#10 AUNT BEE– She won her first 4 career races and now have had back-to-back third place finishes. This will be the longest distance she will go. I think she should be closer to the pace in here and return to her winning ways. Has won at Thistle before and has two tries over the track.
#4 FIRST SONG– Gets Irad and only has one other speed horse in this field to deal with. This horse has also won off the pace in the past. Has ran this distance once and won.
#2 RELISH THE RIDE– Has been very consistent only missing the trifecta one time in 6 starts. Is sharp right now winning 2 in a row. Has won 2 of 3 races at Thistle. Could be close to the pace and has a good shot to be there at the end. Distance will be the question as she has never gone past 6 furlongs.
Plays: $20 win #10 $1 exbox 2,4,10 $1 tribox 2,4,10
Thistledown Race 10: $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes
PACE PROJECTION: A few speed horses in here including the #3 TAKE CHARGE LORIN and the #10 MALICED.
#4 CANDLELIGHT HOURS– She is sharp right now winning 4 in a row and TD has been aboard for all of those wins. In 9 career starts has only missed the exacta one time. Has speed to be right off the pace when the cheap speed fades in this race. Has won both of her races over a mile so the little bit of extra distance shouldn’t be a concern.
#5 CRAZY BEAUTIFUL– Does very well outside of Graded stakes. Has not raced for 2 months but her workouts especially her last 2 were excellent as they were both bullets.
#6 ARMY WIFE– Has a bunch of back class and performs well especially on a fast dirt track. She won 4 of 8 and never missed a trifecta with those conditions. Don’t like to win especially as the favorite but you need to play in the exotics.
PLAYS: $20 win #4 $1 exbox 4,5,6 $1 tri box 4,5,6
Thistledown Race 11: $500,000 Ohio Derby Grade III
PACE PROJECTION: The two front runners look to be #5 WHITE ABBARIO and the #6 PINEAPPLE MAN
#5 WHITE ABBARIO– He gets lasix for the first time and should be close to the early pace. This looks to be a perfect spot for him to bounce back from the Kentucky Derby performance. Has won at this distance before in his only try.
#4 ETHEREAL ROAD– I was really impressed with his last race and I think he’s the other major player here. Will be looking to come from mid pack.
#7 TAWNY PORT– He will be closing late and I like that he gets Irad for the first time. Only one of his wins came on a fast dirt track.
PLAYS: $20 win #5 $1 exbox 4,5,7 $1 tribox 4,5,7
22 to 1 Tom’s Tips
Thistledown Race 9: $75,000 Geoge Lewis Memorial Stakes
4 – First Song
Winner last out at 6F going wire-to-wire and comment, he dug in
First of the season was just that, even race and needed something more
He’s tried this distance once before and won in state-bred stakes race
Irad is riding and inside starting post helps
10 – Aunt Bee
A good sprinter who will try 2 turns today
In the money in all her races with 6 starts 4 wins 2 thirds
She beat the males in at state-bred claimer in first start of the season
Fast turnaround to race but she’s in form
9 – Jimtown
Flash speed 2 starts back and ran on for 4th
Last start, was an even run to run 4th again
All races were state-bred allowance races at 6F
He’s tried this distance once before and ran third in a minor stakes race
He’s a non-winner of 3 races but should have breakthrough here to get a placing
Thistledown Race 10: $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes
9 – Maracuja
2 races this year, both at Oaklawn, 1 OC80k claimers for nw4 and she won then faced some of the best female horses running right now in the grade 1 Apple Blossom and ran 4th to 3 grade 1 winners
As a 3-year-old, she won the CCA Oaks grade 1 over the Malathat
Beside her 3 maiden races, she ran 2nd after break maiden in grade 3 race and the OC races
All her other races are in grade 1 company
This is a good to pickup a win after a layoff
6 – Army Wife
One race this year ran a good 3td missing by 2L
She was with the leading group all the way around but did have the finishing stuff or maybe form
She’s a grade 2 and 3 winner and has placed in grade 1 races
Tyle Gaffalione rides again which only helps her chances
3 – Take Charge Lorin
1 race this year and showed speed and then ran 4th
She’s only a maiden winner but she’s been placed in good grade 3 race and allowance races
I think there is enough there off the 1st start to suggest that she can run in the money vs the rest of these horse
Thistledown Race 11: $500,000 Ohio Derby Grade III
1 – Barese
After beating state-breds 3 times, he was placed in the Wood Memorial and ran 5th to 2 future classic race winners – MoDonegal and Early Voting
Then ran 3rd as the short priced favorite in a restricted race
Layoff, comes back here on ok works
First time Lasix and getting a rail ride and should lay close to the lead
At this distance over the last 5 races, the 1,2 and 10+ posts have given us the winners, hmmmmmm
He’s my choice to win
5 – White Abarrio
The last race was nothing short of a disaster in KY Derby – toss
Winner of FL Derby and Holy Bull doing what he needed to do to win
Works suggest he’s returning to form and the break only will help this horse who’s won off a layoff before
4 – Ethereal Road
Won last out at Pimlico in minor stakes race
He started out at Oaklawn with a maiden win and then running 2nd in the Rebel
Both Keeneland stakes races he has problems in the running of the races with being bumped, finding trouble, or starting gate issues
He will be forever known as the horse that was scratched from the KY Derby to allow a horse into the race that went onto win
Rich’s Ranks
Thistledown Race 9: $75,000 Geoge Lewis Memorial Stakes
13 – Authentic Cowtown
4 – First Song
12 – Mobil Solutions
8 – Big Truck
Thistledown Race 10: $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes
4 – Candlelight Hours
6 – Army Wife
10 – Maliced
5 – Crazy Beautiful
Thistledown Race 11: $500,000 Ohio Derby Grade III
1 – Barese
5- White Abarrio
7 – Twany Port
6 – Pineapple Man
